To assist women in raising their self-esteem and achieving economic independence through sustained employment. WEN's vision is to advance positive change in the lives of women, their families and the community, one woman at a time.

Leadership

CEO/Executive DirectorMs. Sherry Turner

Board ChairMs. Megan McCurdy

Board Chair Company AffiliationStinson Leonard Street LLP

History and Background

Year of Incorporation1986

Financial Summary

Revenue Expense Area Graph

Comparing revenue to expenses shows how the organizations finances fluctuate over time.

Source: IRS Form 990

Breakdown

Net Gain/Loss: in

Data not available

Note: When component data are not available, the graph displays the total Revenue and/or Expense values.

Statements

Mission StatementTo assist women in raising their self-esteem and achieving economic independence through sustained employment. WEN's vision is to advance positive change in the lives of women, their families and the community, one woman at a time.

Background Statement

In 2016, Women's Employment Network (WEN) celebrated 30 years of bringing
positive change to the lives of women in the Kansas City metropolitan area,
with a mission of assisting women in raising their self-esteem and achieving
economic independence through sustained employment. WEN's strategic approach
promotes the overall economic wellness of clients, focuses on helping them to
build pathways for securing livable-wage jobs, and provides credit-building
tools and financial education; together, this education leads our clients
toward long-term financial stability. While WEN's activities have always been
centered around helping women find work, there's more to economic wellness than
just employment. Over the past several years, Women's Employment Network (WEN)
has made significant strides in helping women in the Kansas City metro area
become financially literate, take control of their budgets and start their own
businesses. These strides can, in part, be attributed to the strength of the OneKC
for Women alliance that was created in 2009. The alliance brought together the
Women's Employment Network, Women's Capital Connection (WCC) and Women's
Business Center (WBC) to create an umbrella organization wherein women all
across the region could access resources needed to advance their financial
success.

In
September 2014, WEN co-authored, along with the Library, a request for national
funding from the FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority) Foundation
and the American Library Association. This grant partnership funds efforts to
provide financial education and related resources to residents of three
low-income areas that have significant financial instability. WEN takes the
lead in delivering financial workshops through the Kansas City Public Library
system.

WEN operates on a fiscal year from July 1st through
June 30th and is led by an active 15-member board of directors composed of
experienced business people and community volunteers. WEN provides social
support services, referrals, training and financial coaching to help women and
families who depend upon them.

Impact Statement

WEN is proud to work with economically disadvantaged Kansas City women in their efforts to establish financial stability through ongoing employment. WEN promotes the overall economic wellness of women in Kansas City and focuses on helping clients secure livable-wage jobs as well as providing credit-building tools and financial education.

WEN's 2016-2017 fiscal year saw major growth both in terms of fundraising and programming. The $425,000 grants goal was exceeded by over $23,000, and the Annual Luncheon raised $381,970 and was the most successful Luncheon in the organization's 30 years of existence

185 new jobs were reported from graduates of WEN's Signature Five-Week Program.

662 client participated in employment related services.

The Financial Education and Credit Building program served 203 clients.

850 people attended workshops.

WEN program staff handled an average of 131 clients per month.

247 employment referrals.

Needs Statement

WEN’s most pressing needs to help us better serve our clients are the following:

Funding to support our Employment Preparation and Career Transition Training Program, our core program and the heart of our mission. Our 2016-17 program budget is $790,024.

Funding to support the Financial Coaching and Credit Building Program, a successful offering that promotes the overall financial wellness of WEN's clients.

Human Resource professionals from local corporations to volunteer and assist WEN clients with resume development / writing as well as to help WEN clients practice their interviewing techniques with mock interview sessions and to teach workshops on personal development and workplace topics.

Padfolios, bus passes (31 day: RideKC), QuikTrip gas cards ($10-$20), flash drives (2GB or less), gift cards to professional clothing stores (Kohl's, Lane Bryant, Catherine's Macy's), and gently used professional, current professional clothing in good condition.These donations fill an area of need and make it possible for all of WEN's clients to look polished when interviewing for jobs.

Service Categories

Employment Preparation & Procurement

Job Training

Human Services NEC

Areas of Service

MO

KS

MO - Jackson County

MO - Clay County

MO - Platte County

KS - Wyandotte County

KS - Johnson County

MO - Eastern Jackson Co

MO - Jackson County Urban Core

KS - Wyandotte County Urban Core

CEO/Executive Director/Board Chair Statement

The Women's Employment Network (WEN) celebrated 30 years in 2016, serving women from all socio-economic backgrounds in our metropolitan Kansas City area. Our mission remains consistent in providing a holistic approach to serving our clients as they seek financial self-sufficiency. Historically, challenges and barriers remain much the same for women. Pay gaps, sustainable wages, child care costs and transportation costs are systemic barriers to success for the clients we serve. Our clients are in search of the resources to help them overcome these barriers to make personal and professional positive changes in their lives, as well as positive impact on their families.

In 2009, WEN formed a community alliance with other organizations aligned with our mission. The OneKC for Women alliance was formed with the Women's Business Center (WBC) and Women's Capital Connection (WCC). Subsequently, the WE-Lend micro loan program has been added to the alliance. This alliance allows the highest quality model of financial success through job placement, credit/financial health, aspirations to self-employment and small business ownership, micro lending and equity funding.

WEN also participates in a community strategy as a LISC Financial Opportunity Center, with emphasis on financial coaching as a model improving sustainable outcomes for our clients. WEN takes the lead in delivering financial workshops through the Kansas City Public Library system as a partner with FINRA that broadens our outreach to the general public.

Additional community partners such as domestic violence shelters, Operation Breakthrough and Amethyst Place, just to name a few, continue to seek our counsel and inclusion in addressing the barriers of their clients. Strong partnerships will serve women in our community with less redundancy and confusion in the market and promote new synergies. With a unified message profiling the strength of successful women in our region, we will continue to empower our clients as they grow in their careers and economic stability -- and give prospective clients the courage to take a leap of faith and explore WEN as a place of care and compassion.

The Employment Preparation
and Career Transition Training Program is WEN's longest-running program, a
five-week-long intensive training curriculum designed to provide women with a
strong foundation and an action-plan for success. It is offered eight times
every year and runs Monday-Friday to help women transition back into a
workforce schedule.

This program includes Career Exploration, where women identify their skills and possible careers; Essential Job Tools, where women create polished resumes and cover letters; Interview Strategies, where women receive an interview-appropriate suit and participate in mock interviews; and Job Search Resources, where women learn how to search and apply for jobs.

In addition, clients participate in supplemental workshops that build their professional and personal skills as they prepare to enter the workforce. Further support is provided by WEN's licensed social worker, who addresses client need outside of employment, and WEN's Financial Coach.

Program Budget$567,320.00

CategoryEmployment, General/Other Employment, General/Other

Population ServedAdults, Females,

Short-Term Success

WEN Client Metrics:

Program Goals for 2016-2017:

Number of new clients: 500

Number in 5-week program: 130

Percentage of clients to complete 5-week program: 65%

Average wage of WEN client: $12.75

Job Search Lab visits: 1500

Number of Workshop Attendees: 635

Long-Term Success

Through structured and personalized career guidance, WEN
creates positive change in the lives of women who struggle with social,
economic and educational barriers to employment. WEN's efforts help women
discover their own abilities, gain employment and build a better future.

Long-term success resulting from this program involves women building self-sufficiency
and overcoming poverty. A self-sufficient program graduate will have addressed
barriers to employment and sought resources to address these barriers, gained
sustainable employment and set financial goals that prepare them for a stable
future.

Program Success Monitored By

While Women's Employment Network staff are consistently reminded
of the impact of this program by client feedback and success stories, it is
essential that client outcomes are tracked and evaluated to give a broad and
complete perspective of WEN's program results. WEN collects data through intake
forms and monthly program statistical summaries, with all information is
entered into Biz-Trakker, a client management system, allowing staff to create
frequent reports, examine data and determine both areas of strength and need.

WEN's Employment Services Representative tracks the progress of women who successfully complete the program for at least one year by following up with graduates and verifying employment every 30 days for 12 months.

Examples of Program Success

In the 2015-2016 program year WEN served on average 136 women each month, and 455 new clients over the course of the year. Enrollment numbers for the signature program were lower than anticipated at 129 women, but the graduation rate for the program has increased. In 2015-2016, 80% of participants completed the program, which is an increase over 61% graduation in 2012-2013 and 47% graduation in 2011-2012.

WEN clients come from diverse backgrounds, but all exit the program with increased confidence. One client reflects:

"After four years of being a caregiver to family members, getting back into the workforce seemed a little scary. I can’t say enough about the staff at WEN. They are all so knowledgeable and supportive and it means so much to know that they are always going to be there for me if I need them. That is such a great thing !" - Jayna

WEN currently has 2 financial
coaches on staff. While finding employment after being out of work for an
extended period is critical to WEN clients, knowledge of money management is
essential for ongoing success and economic security. Women work with WEN's
Financial Coach who conducts an initial financial assessment and helps them
determine steps necessary for them to regain control of their finances. The
Financial Coach assists clients in building a budget and also reviews their credit
reports, giving advice in how to address collection, past due payments and
judgments. WEN is designated as a Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
Financial Opportunity Center and all financial coaching services are conducted
according to this nationally proven model.

CategoryCommunity Development, General/Other Community Economic Development

Population ServedAdults, ,

Short-Term Success

Short-term outcomes for the previous program year are listed under the header "Examples of Program Success." Since this program is still in its infancy it is difficult to anticipate short-term client outcomes, but in 2015-2016, achieved the following outcomes:

125 clients received financial services

53 increased their credit score

13 accessed a credit building tool

44 decreased their number of outstanding collections

25 increased their net worth

24 increased their net income

Long-Term Success

Long-term success will be evidenced by clients paying off their debts and building healthy credit. LISC reports that in their Financial Opportunity Center network, 50% of clients see improvements in their net income. WEN hopes to exceed this standard long-term.

Program Success Monitored By

The Financial Coach is responsible for compiling data that reflects both clients' financial profile at intake, as well as their progress in building credit as time goes on. While the Financial Coach meets with clients monthly, it can take many months to see any improvement in one's credit score. For this reason, progress is tracked on a biannual basis through pulling client credit reports, and will include the client's credit score, number of active lines of credit, number of accounts currently in collection, and total amount of debt held.

Outcome tracking abilities have increased since WEN became a designated LISC Financial Opportunity Center in November 2013. As an FOC, WEN is required to enter client data into the Efforts to Outcomes database. This captures a detailed picture of client finances, income, and employment information. While at this time mainly used to track outcomes related to WEN’s financial coaching, Efforts to Outcomes is intended to track clients over a longer period than Biz-Tracker, and will ultimately allow WEN to track client progress for multiple years.

Tracy first met with WEN's Financial Coach because she and her four children were desperate to move out of a family member's house into one of their own. The Financial Coach helped Tracy make a credit action plan and began dispute inaccurate information on her credit report. Within a year, by finding employment and focusing on financial goals Tracy was able to achieve her goal and move her children into a rental townhome.

In just over a year, Tracy has accomplished amazing things. Her past due debt has been cut in half, and she has also increased her credit score over 100 points by disputing inaccurate information, paying off debts, and paying her car loan and student loan on time every month.

CEO Comments

Employers continue to alter hiring practices that can impact the way clients look for employment. Through our Employment Specialist, who works directly with the human resource department to provide job leads to our clients, we hope to be current on these changes. Staying on top of social media networks as sources of qualified candidates for employers, the vast number of applications employers are receiving and financial health of a candidate can be conditions that our clients must be familiar with.

Succession planning for our curriculum is a priority and challenging in anticipation of employer and workforce changes. Some changes are based on the use of technology, other changes on abundance of high-quality skill sets of the unemployed. For our low to moderate income client with high school diploma or GED, options can be less favorable. Using technology with blended learning modules has been our focus, and it has been challenging to address the needs of the unskilled computer literate client. Our focus continues to be on the development of modules that can address a vast skill set.

With a variety of experiences from corporate management to business development to entrepreneurship, Sherry Turner serves the Kansas City metropolitan area in a leadership role with the Women’s Employment Network, the Kansas Women’s Business Center, and the Women’s Capital Connection. Mission alignment of these organizations creates financial independence for women in our community through sustained employment and the advancement of women business owners in all stages of their businesses. Branding this new alliance of nonprofits focused on women was launched in June 2009 as OneKC for Women.

Previously, Ms. Turner was Director of Small Business and Entrepreneurship with the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Turner believes Kansas City is a great place to grow a business and she is committed to making the Kansas City bi-state region a stronger entrepreneurial economy with a talented workforce.

Managing a workforce of 1,100, Ms. Turner was instrumental in conducting the 1990 Census on a national operations level as well as one of seven processing offices located in Kansas City. The Resolution Trust Corporation then recruited her to develop a regional program for records management, which to this date was the largest records undertaking in the history of the U. S. Government. She then relocated to Los Angeles to assist in opening a new office to handle the large volume of the 1980’s bank and savings and loan closures.

Entrepreneurial ventures include management consulting in the corporate sector and enhancing applied academic programs through promoting work-based learning opportunities for academic institutions throughout the Midwest.

Ms. Turner also worked for the KC Area Development Council and The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce as a Business Information Specialist and held several management positions in the corporate sector.

Ms. Turner holds a B.S from Northwest Missouri State University and is a native of Kansas City.

Experience/BiographyLynnette has 19 years with Women's Employment Network. She has oversight of WEN's program and services which includes supervision of the program staff to ensure that case managers follow proper procedures during client screening, assessment and the referral process. She coordinates and manages volunteers assisting with client resume writing and mock interviews. Lynnette oversees the staff and volunteers who teach the supplemental workshops in our program. Lynnette is the primary facilitator and teaches our five-week core Employment Readiness & Career Transition training program. She is responsible for the collection and tabulation of program client statistics and evaluation data which is reported to the WEN Board on a monthly basis.

Nicole Levy joined the Women's Employment Network as Director of Development in January 2013. Nicole has extensive development experience working on behalf of mission-driven, community-minded organizations in the areas of fundraising, grant writing, special event planning and social work administration. Prior to joining WEN, Nicole served for four and a half years as Associate Director of Development at Operation Breakthrough. She has also held positions at Providence Saint John Foundation, Children’s Mercy Hospital and The Barstow School. Nicole earned a degree in Political Science from Bard College and a Master’s in Social Work Administration and Advocacy Practice from the University of Kansas.

Staff

Paid Full-Time Staff10

Paid Part-Time Staff0

Volunteers94

Paid Contractors1

Retention Rate90%

Formal Evaluations

CEO Formal EvaluationYes

CEO/Executive Formal Evaluation FrequencyAnnually

Senior Management Formal EvaluationYes

Senior Management Formal Evaluation FrequencyAnnually

Non-Management Formal EvaluationYes

Non-Management Formal Evaluation FrequencyAnnually

Plans & Policies

Organization Has a Fundraising PlanYes

Organization Has a Strategic PlanYes

Management Succession PlanNo

Organization Policy and ProceduresYes

Nondiscrimination PolicyYes

Whistleblower PolicyYes

Document Destruction PolicyYes

Collaborations

Women's Employment Network has a number of strategic partnerships with the intention of enhancing the services offered and avoiding the duplication of efforts in the Kansas City area. WEN's formation of the OneKC for Women Alliance in 2009 has been extremely successful, increasing the range of resources available to WEN's clients. At the same time, WEN was influential in bringing the St. Louis microlender Justine Petersen to Kansas City; they are housed at WEN and have awarded more than $3.0 million in microloans over 200 small businesses in Kansas City. In 2014, the Women's Business Center also received a national grant providing $100k seed funding for an additional micro loan start-up. Eventually, the creation of this program may leverage federal loan pools from the U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Treasure Department of $5 - $10 million dollars.

In 2014 WEN joined Operation Breakthrough and Amethyst Place in the "100 Jobs for 100 Moms" initiative, which helps women overcome employment barriers and develop skills that will lead to sustainable employment and economic self-sufficiency. As part of this partnership, WEN provides regular workshops on job searching, workplace etiquette and budgeting. In less than two years, participating companies have increased and more than 13 single mothers have achieved employment, with plans for expansion underway.

WEN's most recent collaboration is a financial literacy initiative with the Kansas City Public Library. The strategy is to serve those in need of financial at three branches which primarily serve those living in poverty. Finally, WEN has ongoing referral partner relationships with a number of local agencies including the Rose Brooks Center, New House, Safe Haven, Hope House, the Housing Authority of Kansas City, Blue Hills Community Center and many others. Staff has reached out to the various shelters in an attempt to educate the clientele on the availability of WEN and the financial coaching, as well as to present mini-workshops. WEN has found that, with the domestic violence/substance abuse organizations, the women are still in "crisis mode" and are not yet ready for the programs that WEN provides. Once the women are stable and out of a crisis situation, the women have great success at WEN.

Awards

Award/Recognition

Organization

Year

Social Action Award

Midwest Sociological Society

2004

Local Practitioner Award

National Employment Counseling Assoc.

2004

Advancing the Status of Women Award

Soroptimist International

2003

Resolution

Missouri House of Representatives

2009

The 2011 Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership Award

Support Kansas City

2011

Government Licenses

Is your organization licensed by the government?No

CEO Comments

Women's Employment Network is governed by an active 15-member Board of Directors composed of experienced business people and community volunteers acting as advisors in areas that relate directly to the organization's mission and needs. WEN's board recruiting strategy specifically seeks area women and men who can help advise in areas of human resources, employment, education, finance, law, advertising, technology, and fund development. As a result, WEN has a board that is capable of overseeing all aspects of management and governance of the organization.

Board members may serve for two consecutive three-year terms. They are asked to attend no fewer than 75% of meetings, serve on committees or subcommittees, carry out assignments from the Board Chair, make a personal financial commitment, assist with fundraising, attend WEN's events, and promote WEN's mission in the community. Active committees consist of Executive, Finance, Fund Development, Board Development, Marketing, and Programming.

WEN remains strong in our collaboration with social service agencies and non-profits that provide complementary resources to address our client needs. We continue to stay true to our vision without creating redundant programs that our sister organizations already provide. Our Financial Opportunity Center designation is a community initiative we are proud to be a part of and see unlimited potential and outcomes for the women we serve. Additional collaborations with Operation Breakthrough, Blue Hills Community Center, Ivanhoe and Amethyst Place have been implemented. We have provided our employment and financial workshops to these organizations and at times have been challenged by their attendance level. We will continue to work towards a solution that can address client barriers.

Women's Employment Network is governed by an active 15-member Board of Directors (with WEN's founder serving as an honorary 20th member). It is composed of experienced business people and community volunteers that act as advisors in areas that relate directly to the organization's mission and needs. WEN's board recruiting strategy specifically seeks area women and men who can help advise in areas of human resources, employment, education, finance, law, advertising, technology, and fund development. As a result, WEN has a board that is capable of overseeing all aspects of management and governance of the organization.

Board members may serve for two consecutive three-year terms. They are asked to attend no fewer than 75% of meetings, serve on committees or subcommittees, carry out assignments from the Board Chair, make a personal financial commitment, assist with fundraising, attend WEN's events, and promote WEN's mission in the community. Active committees consist of Executive, Finance, Fund Development, Board Development, Marketing, and Programming.

WEN remains strong in our collaboration with social service agencies and non-profits that provide complementary resources to address our client needs. We continue to stay true to our vision without creating redundant programs that our sister organizations already provide. Our Financial Opportunity Center designation is a community initiative we are proud to be a part of and see unlimited potential and outcomes for the women we serve. Additional collaborations with Operation Breakthrough, Blue Hills Community Center, Ivanhoe and Amethyst Place have been implemented. We have provided our employment and financial workshops to these organizations and at times have been challenged by their attendance level. We will continue to work towards a solution that can address client barriers.

Organization CommentsThe Women's Employment Network continues to remain in a strong cash position, as well as add to our Board Designated Fund in support of our sustainability for years to come. We have maintained a conservative budget over the past five years, balanced our budget each year and increased between 3-5%. This has been our intentional effort to ensure market fluctuations that might decrease revenues for some of our funders does not put our organization in jeopardy. Our Finance Committee remains diligent in monitoring our cash flow and sources of revenue in concert with our Development Committee and the full board of directors. We are appreciative of the confidence our funders and how they relate to us and will continue to serve women in our community as our core mission.